Teen on way to school hit, dragged by 18-wheeler

By Alia Malik, San Antonio Express-News

Updated 10:23 pm, Monday, March 31, 2014

Photo: John Davenport / San Antonio Express-News

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Police investigate the scene where a teenage student was struck and dragged by an 18-wheeler in the 10800 block of Leslie Road near Helotes. The truck driver was not immediately charged, and a police sergeant said, “It looks like an unfortunate accident.” less

Police investigate the scene where a teenage student was struck and dragged by an 18-wheeler in the 10800 block of Leslie Road near Helotes. The truck driver was not immediately charged, and a police sergeant ... more

Photo: John Davenport / San Antonio Express-News

Teen on way to school hit, dragged by 18-wheeler

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SAN ANTONIO — A 17-year-old student was in critical condition Monday after an 18-wheeler hit and dragged him near Helotes.

The teen started to cross the street, into the path of the passing 18-wheeler, Salazar said. The driver swerved to avoid Culp but hit another car, which threw the big rig back into the teen, Salazar said.

“He was dragged for quite a bit, probably about 30 to 40 feet,” Salazar said. “For a while, he was pinned under the 18-wheeler. However, emergency crews got here rather quickly. They were able to get him out.”

Culp was taken to University Hospital and remained in critical condition as of Monday afternoon, hospital officials said.

Salazar said speed did not seem to be a factor in the accident, but police blocked off Leslie Road in the area to investigate. The truck driver was not immediately charged.

“It looks like an unfortunate accident,” Salazar said. “However, we will be looking at all aspects of it.”

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Pascual Gonzalez, a spokesman for Northside Independent School District, said several students saw the accident and that crisis counselors were brought to the school Monday.

Culp's classmates and others took to Twitter using the hashtag #PrayforCody. “Weird having an empty desk behind me in English today,” one tweet said. Another read, “2nd period is missing you Cody.”

Trucks are not supposed to be driving on that block of Leslie Road but do anyway, said Natalie Cook, who lives in the area. She said the trucks make the decorations on her walls rattle in the middle of the night.